Message from Fr Paul for Friday 25th November
Fr Paul • November 26, 2022
It was a real pleasure to be able to visit my mother yesterday. The journey down, once we reached the Heads of the Valleys part of the A465 at Brynmawr, soon became what I imagine parts of hell to be like: torrential rain so thick you can’t see through it, fearful black skies and 10 miles of muddy roadworks as workers valiantly plod on constructing the new dual carriageway from Dowlais Top to the big Hirwain roundabout. However, once we made it to my mother’s, the rain stopped, the sky turned blue and the sun began to shine. After a spectacular lunch and a quick snooze, we went down to the beach, but the wind was so strong that even Toby had difficulty walking straight. My mother was wise to stay in the car. Later on, after a supper of homemade ravioli, we returned to Belmont in record time. Driving conditions could not have been more different. I’ve often wondered, as God is so merciful and loving, if hell must be redundant.
Today we remember St Catherine of Alexandria, the virgin martyr who died in the year 305 and whom I learned a lot about as a boy buying Catherine wheels for Guy Fawkes! In addition, the local Anglican parish church, a beautiful, miniature cathedral, was dedicated to her. My best friend’s father was the vicar, so we often played there as well as in the cemetery and in the ruins of the old primitive medieval church dedicated to St Baglan. Old age encourages happy memories!
In today’s short Gospel from Luke, (Lk 21: 29-33), Jesus tells his disciples one of several parables about a fig tree. “Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you know that summer is now near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Here Jesus suggests that it won’t be difficult to discern when the world is coming to an end: it will be just like looking at a tree and understanding what season of the year it is. All that we see will one day pass away, God and those who live in God and live by the word of Jesus will not pass away, for God is eternal.
Fr Paul
A Christmas concert of classic Christmas tunes sung by the local Minims Musical Theatre Choir Tickets are available to buy online here; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-concert-tickets-1955269576939 Or they will be available to buy after Mass or by contacting Louise Wright at louise@thewoodee.com More info available on facebook here https://www.facebook.com/events/25157023667265728
Please find below the documents on the Parish AGM held on 13th September. AGM Agenda AGM Minutes AGM Parish Priest Report AGM Chairman Report and Vision Parish Mission Teams List 2025
CALLING LOCAL ACTORS! Could you be part of The Hereford Passion? Hereford Cathedral is casting for its forthcoming production of The Hereford Passion (March 2026), with rehearsals beginning in January. We are seeking actors for a wide range of roles — and especially someone to play the pivotal role of Jesus . Rehearsals will be held twice a week from mid-December/early January, though not all actors will be required at every rehearsal. Both The Hereford Nativity (November 2025) and The Hereford Passion (March 2026) will be performed inside the stunning setting of Hereford Cathedral, following the huge success of The Passion in 2024. If you are interested in taking part, or would like to recommend someone, please contact: James Pacey 📧 james.pacey@herefordcathedral.org 075950 353 42
There is a performance of the Passion Play in Hereford next Saturday 12th March
Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 1 st October 2023 Yesterday was a busy but happy day in the service of the Lord. In the morning, after Conventual Mass and Toby’s second walk of the day, I drove up to Leominster for Mass and Confessions, then came back to Belmont for a joyful wedding, elegant, homely and relaxed. Then came the Mass of Thanksgiving for the Silver Jubilee of Fr Richard’s Priestly Ordination, an uplifting celebration followed by a magnificent, traditional tea party. It was lovely to see so many well-known faces from all the parishes where Fr Richard has served. As a monk can never have too much of a good thing, this was followed by Solemn Vespers. Today, I will be at Leominster for Mass in the morning and again in the early afternoon, as well as at Bromyard for Mass later in the morning. Then, at 5.30pm the monastic community will sing Vespers at Hereford Cathedral for the vigil of the feast of St Thomas Cantilupe at the invitation of the Dean and Chapter. We are all looking forward enormously to returning to the Cathedral for the first time since lockdown. All are welcome to join us for Vespers. Fr Michael will preside and preach. Today’s Gospel from Matthew (Mt 21: 28-32) has Jesus asking the chief priests and elders of the people a question. “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, ‘My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not go,’ but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, ‘Certainly, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?” His question is based on the short parable of the two sons and the answer is obvious, but by getting the answer right, his adversaries fall into a trap. When they answer, “The first,” Jesus is able to compare them unfavourably with tax collectors and prostitutes, i.e. with public sinners. He contrasts the way they responded to John the Baptist’s preaching, which was to ignore him, and the response of sinners, which was to repent of their sins and change their way of life. Jesus says, “Tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.” Now it’s fine to talk about the high priests of Jesus’ time, about the elders of the people, the scribes and Pharisees, but what about us? What about me? Which son am I like? How closely do I listen to Jesus and take his teaching to heart? Does his teaching call me to repentance? Does his example move me to conversion and new life? These are important questions we should be asking ourselves today. Lord, I have often been disobedient to your will and have let myself down; help me out of my indolence and give me grace always to do what is right and just. Amen.
Message from Fr Paul for Saturday, 14 th October 2023 It was good to drive to Bromyard yesterday morning for Mass and to take Toby with me. This wasn’t new to him, of course, as in the past he had been there many times and always accompanied me when I went church crawling nearby. As you know, I love visiting ancient churches and love praying in them and singing the chant. I always get the feeling that the stones remember and rejoice. When I eventually move to Leominster and Bromyard next year on my retirement as abbot, one of the many things I’m looking forward to doing is visiting every ancient church in the north of Herefordshire, not that I can say that I’ve visited every medieval church in the south of the county, but I’m getting pretty close. Toby always accompanies me, as he loves sniffing around old churches and churchyards as much as I do. Today’s brief Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 11: 27-28), is a most suitable passage to be heard on Saturday, which is usually dedicated to Our Lady. Here it is: “As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” It’s somewhat similar to the short account we read recently of a visit made by Mary and his brothers to Jesus, when he was preaching to the crowds and healing them. “Who are my mother and my sisters and brothers?” he asked, replying that those who hear the word and kept it are his mother and sisters and brothers. This time it is a woman in the crowd, who shouts out, “Blessed are the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked.” It’s not that Jesus disagrees with what she says, but he takes her thought a stage further. “Even more blest those who hear the word of God and keep it.” Who is more blessed than Mary his mother, who heard the word of God and kept it? We ask Mary’s prayers today that we, like her, may hear the word of God and keep it.
Message from Fr Paul for Friday, 13 th October 2023 It’s 11pm on Thursday night as I sit down to write a few words for today’s message, my first day back at Belmont after a short break in Greece. However, the drive from Birmingham Airport to Hereford took much longer than expected because of roadworks on the M42 that resulted in lengthy diversions, causing us to arrive at Belmont well after 2am. I didn’t really recover all day. Then, after Compline, I had to drive down to Newport to collect Fr Alex, who was arriving from his visit to the Cistercian nuns at Las Huelgas, Burgos, Spain. I wonder why the train to Hereford leaves Newport three minutes before the train from Paddington arrives. Today the Church in England keeps the feast of St Edward the Confessor, last Anglo-Saxon king of the House of Wessex, who reigned from 1042 until 1066. He is buried at Westminster Abbey and was one of the English patron saints until replaced by St George by King Edward III. Our Gospel from Luke today, (Lk 11: 15-26), sees Jesus casting out a devil and then taking about the devil, whom he calls Beelzebul. He says, “If it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you.” It is God’s will and through his power that Jesus casts out devils, as he tries to bring healing, unity and reconciliation to all God’s children. There are many devils abroad in thew world today, wreaking havoc, death and destruction. We ask Jesus to cast these from our world through the power of God and to bring us that peace with God which alone can bring peace among his children.
Message from Fr Paul for Thursday, 12th October 2023 I spent much of yesterday travelling back to Belmont from Greece and I’m writing this short message in one of the many Lufthansa lounges at Munich Airport. As my plane doesn’t get into Birmingham until 11pm, I doubt I’ll arrive at Belmont much before 1am. I really enjoyed having a break, but as the Welsh say after a good day’s weather, “We’ll pay for it later.” Munich must be one of the best airports to negotiate as you make a connection from one flight to another, especially if you happen to have a British passport. On leaving Thessaloniki, I was asked by the young border policeman how I’d been allowed into Greece without a visa, as he didn’t recognise a new blue British Passport. He took it from me and went off to consult a senior colleague. It’s the first time in 60 years of visiting Greece on a regular basis that I felt like an alien in a foreign land! Today we keep the feast of St Wilfred in England, but in Spain and many countries in Latin America it’s La Virgen del Pilar, Our Lady of the Pilar, patron of Spain and venerated in Zaragoza, another reason why October is the month of Mary. Our Gospel from Luke today, (Lk 11: 5-13), is the continuation of yesterday’s, where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. It’s an extended commentary by Jesus on perseverance in prayer. “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.” Ultimately, the best gift of prayer is the Holy Spirit, whom our Heavenly Father gives to those who ask him.